Michael Brown Says Struggle For Equality Isn’t Real Because Ellen DeGeneres Is Famous

One of the strangest, most common threads in Outer Wingnuttia is that, aside from holding beliefs about minorities that are simply untrue and hateful, they also have an extremely skewed view of reality and history in other areas that don’t even seemingly relate to their bigotry. It’s like they truly live on another planet. A great example of that is Michael Brown, talking to disgraced former chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt, suggesting that there is no comparison between the movement for LGBT equality and the Civil Rights Movement, because we have Ellen DeGeneres. He states that before desegregation, there were no famous black people.

So, while you watch this video (it’s not long), see how many people you can think of who were both 1.) black and 2.) famous, before desegregation.

How many did you think of? I thought of quite a few, and this page has a great list of those who were famous just in the two decades before the Civil Rights Act. For instance:

There is a point here, and it’s important. For decades, many Americans were more than content to enjoy black singers, actors, athletes, etc., while still being perfectly fine with segregated lunch counters and anti-miscegenation laws. Hell, there wouldn’t be any such thing as rock ‘n’ roll without the co-opting of black culture. The only difference is that when Loving v. Virginia came down in 1967, an enormous 73% of Americans still were against interracial marriage, and now we have great majorities who support marriage equality, before the deal has even been done in all fifty states. But just fifteen years ago, we were in a similar situation, with millions of Americans giggling themselves to sleep watching Will & Grace while simultaneously voting against LGBT rights at the ballot box and in Congress. Moreover, there are still states that don’t have majority support for marriage equality, but definitely have majority support for Ellen being one of the biggest stars in America. There still are millions people in this country who are willing to enjoy the brilliance of LGBT people without actually supporting our dignity. Among that group, those numbers are moving in our direction, but the struggle isn’t over yet.

The fact that we’ve been able to change that many hearts and minds since then doesn’t mean that our fight isn’t valid. It just means that this, too, is a fight for fairness and equality that decent-hearted Americans will win, and win big.

Two things though:

1) How on earth does it even matter whether people love Ellen DeGeneres? That doesn’t erase anti-gay bullying, or the attempted/completed suicides that come from it, and it doesn’t erase the harm that people like Michael Brown are still able to get away with in the United States. If anyone on Michael’s side of the fence sees his argument as valid, it makes me worry about the state of the American educational system.

2) Is Michael Brown really so culturally unaware that he doesn’t realize that all those people were both 1) famous and 2) black, long before the Civil Rights Act and Loving? Really? Really. Seriously? My goodness, bless his heart.

What Michael Brown (and most white men) don’t get is that there’s a difference between being accepted by society, and being accepted by society only in specific roles.

With Blacks, you could achieve fame as a great singer (Ella) or instrumentalist (Satchmo) or actress (Hattie) and people would cheer your name. But you were only as acceptable as you were non-threatening.

White people would go to clubs to hear the exotic “jungle music” produced by Blacks (that is: jazz music). They could be enthralled by its brilliance and still feel superior at the same time.

A similar thing happens with gays. We’re only as acceptable as we are non-threatening. e.g. – what straight girl doesn’t want a “gay best friend” they can gab with about guys and trade fashion tips? Nevermind the fact that this gay guy is also a human being with his own wants, needs, emotions, etc. and doesn’t exist solely to be arm candy.

Someone wrote a great article on this phenomenon – she made a point about how, as a minority, as soon as they stop wanting to destroy you, they start wanting to *posess* you.

Regan DuCasseSeptember 25, 2013 at 9:22 am -

Usually, non threatening, whether you’re a minority or female tends to mean you’re either there as entertainment or in the role of servile.
You’re acceptable as long as you’re entertaining or servicing those in the dominant role.
Any desire or challenge to become self reliant and anything BUT those roles is punishable.

Gary (NJ)September 24, 2013 at 9:11 am -

Michael who?

KibokoSeptember 24, 2013 at 12:36 pm -

Didn’t Mohammed Ali throw his gold medal over a bridge because in spite of winning a gold medal for the USA, he was refused service at a burger bar for being black? He wasn’t the only sporting hero who was black, famous and segregated – what about Jesse Owens?

Josephine Baker was also famous before the civil rights. Anyway, it’s all irrelevant as his whole argument is totally nonsensical and invalid.

GianniSeptember 24, 2013 at 1:20 pm -

These a..holes only deliver, no matter how twisted or idiotic the reasoning, what their listeners want to hear. They’d never make any money if they actually advised their followers to grow the f..k up and get with real life because your aren’t better than anyone else str8 or gay! I can literally “see” the loyal listeners nodding their heads in affirmation while chanting,”Yes, Jesus.” “Thank you,Jesus.” Creeps me out.

Butt F****rSeptember 26, 2013 at 8:50 pm -

What is Islam’s position on homosexuality?
Islamic law teaches that homosexuality is a vile form of fornication, punishable by death.

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